John Thune stated that it feels like he is the only person in town who can count to 50.
Posted by The NPR Politics Podcast, Checked
- Sources
- 4 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 70%
The NPR Politics PodcastAug 28, 2026
Multiple reports from August 2026 quote Thune saying that some days it seems he is the only one in town who can count to 50, closely matching the claim's wording, which is a faithful paraphrase of the passage.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… That's not the only thing that is in this Save America package as a whole, I should say. Even support for the Save America Act isn't unanimous among Republican legislators. It's had immense difficulty getting through the Senate, and Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune said something to the effect of, "Sometimes it feels like I'm the only person in this town who can count to 50." But this also said, quote, "This legislation will make sure Americans, and Americans only, decide our elections. President Trump has been clear, and he is absolutely right. We fix this now, or we lose our country." …
The NPR Politics Podcast · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. KMPH reports Thune telling reporters in August that 'some days … I'm the only one here who can count to 50 in this town.'[1]
Supports. GOP senators back Thune article quotes him saying 'It seems to me some days that I'm the only one here who can count to 50 in this town,' with coverage dated August 11, 2026.[2]
Supports. Unbiasable's Thune quote collection lists an Aug 7 'As printed' quote with the same 'only one here who can count to 50 in this town' wording, and a Townhall post cites an August 4, 2026 video of Thune saying 'Seems to me I'm the only one who can count to 50.'[3][4]
Context. Other coverage shows Thune repeatedly using 'you got to get to 50' and 'can't count to 50' phrasing about the filibuster and the SAVE America Act, consistent with a recurring talking point.[5][6]
Context. The claim's wording ('it feels like he is') differs slightly from the reported quotes ('it seems to me some days that I'm'), but the meaning is the same, so the paraphrase does not change the substance.[1][2][3]
Sources
6 sources: 6 not rated
- 1House Republican reportedly loses patience over Senate's slow pacekmph.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 2GOP senators back John Thune after Trump demands end to filibusterjang.com.pk · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 3John Thune quotes: 63 on the recordunbiasable.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 4No, John, *We* Can Also Count to 50. That's the Point, You Clown.townhall.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Trump presses Thune to move reconciliation framework before August recess as tensions mountwane.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 6Trump wants the SAVE Act passed now. Why can't John Thune deliver the Senatenorthjersey.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post